Entries tagged with: IzodCenter

Despite protests from local officials, union members, and members of the state Legislature, NJ did in fact vote to close the Izod Center...

the board that controls the Meadowlands Sports Complex voted Thursday in favor of a Christie administration plan to close the Izod Center, as soon as the end of this month.

Capping a discussion that went on for nearly four hours, both in public and behind closed doors, the members of the Sports and Exposition Authority voted 10-2 to shutter the 34-year-old indoor arena until at least January of 2017, about the time the American Dream project is expected to open. [NorthJersey.com]

The American Dream project that the article mentions is the new shopping and entertainment center that's being built next to the location of the Izod Center. NY1 also points out that if lawmakers approve gambling outside of Atlantic City, a casino could open in the Meadowlands as well.

The Izod Center will still host a few more events before its March 31 closure, including wrestling, the circus, Disney live, Chris Brown and Maroon 5. Anything after March 31st is cancelled. RIP Izod Center/Continental Airlines Arena/Brendan Byrne (for now at least).

NJ officials want to close down the Izod Center because no sports happen there, it's losing money, and it can't seem to compete with all the other arenas and stadiums in the area (like Prudential Center in Newark and Barclays Center in Brooklyn). The Jersey Record reported this morning that shut down would likely be approved at a meeting today, but NJ Advance Media reports:

Local officials, union members, and members of the state Legislature assailed proposals today to shut down the Izod Center arena in East Rutherford, calling the plan rash and short-sighted.

The criticism during a meeting of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority came as the board was considering a vote on closing the 34-year-old arena for at least two years, and shifting the events on its schedule to the Prudential Center in Newark.

While the state has been talking publicly for more than a year about getting out of the sports and entertainment business, the proposal to simply turn off the lights at the Izod Center came suddenly and without warning yesterday.

There are currently 16 upcoming ticketed events at the Izod Center including wrestling, the circus, Disney live, Chris Brown and Maroon 5.

MetLife Stadium is right next door, also part of the Meadowlands complex, and is in no danger of closing. It has Taylor Swift and the Electric Daisy Carnival coming up, and is the home stadium for both the Giants and the Jets.

Naturally, Bruce Springsteen, who played the final show at Giants Stadium (which was replaced by Metlife Stadium), played the very first concerts at Brendan Byrne (now the Izod Center). Watch the now-amazing video news reports from 1981, below...

Anyway, the show took a dark turn when they played their ballad "Beyond the Realms of Death", which made me have to sit down a second and think about my own mortality and also how this chick's ass was in my way for a second. But I got over that fast because then Rob Halford came out on a fucking Harley for "Hell Bent for Leather" and it was the greatest thing ever to happen in North America. He also wore like nine different leather jackets during the show, which ruled. Most singers are lucky if they can wear like three jackets tops. [Dave Hill's Barclays Center review]

Metal legends Judas Priest's tour with Steel Panther already hit NYC for a show at Barclays Center. We posted pictures and Dave Hill's review of that (excerpted above), and now we've got a set of pics from the other NYC-area stop that happened October 17 at the Izod Center. Like at the Barclays show, this was packed with classics like "You've Got Another Thing Comin'," "Breaking the Law," "Hell Bent for Leather," "Metal Gods," plenty more. Didn't catch the exact number of leather jackets this time though.

Judas Priest are hitting the road in support of their new album Redeemer of Souls starting in October. The tour will cover the States through November, including stops at the previously announced Louisville's Louder Than Life Fest and Austin's Fun Fun Fun Fest. On October 9, Judas Priest and supporting sleaze balls Steel Panther will drop into Brooklyn's Barclays Center. The following day, October 10, the heavy metal icons will hit Harrah's in Atlantic City. A few days later, October 17, they hit East Rutherford, NJ for a show at Izod Center. CT, PA and many more states are being visited too. Ticket information will be announced soon. All dates are listed below.

Redeemer of Souls, the band's 17th studio full-length, will hit stores on July 8. From the released songs and samples, the album purposefully and proudly strides back to Priest's '70s material, ringing in a new era with an identifiably classic sound. Fans in the New York area can purchase the album on July 8 at FYE at the 43rd street at Hard Rock TSQ and have the album signed by the band in the Hard Rock Café at 6:30 PM.

Justin Timberlake just brought his tour with Jay Z to NYC for two Yankee Stadium shows over the weekend, and he's since added many of his own dates to happen this fall without Jay Z, including two more in the NYC-area. The first is at Brooklyn's newest arena, Barclays Center on November 6, and the second is on November 9 at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ. Tickets for those shows go on MasterCard/Fan CLub presales today (7/24) at 10 AM, Live Nation/LN Mobile App presale Friady (7/26) at 10 AM, and on sale to the general public Monday (7/29) at 10 AM.

JT is set to release the second part of The 20/20 Experience on September 30. He recently released its single, "Take Back the Night," which you can listen to, along with an updated list of tour dates, below.

As mentioned, Beyonce recently expanded her world tour and the new dates included a second night at Barclays Center (8/4) after selling out the previous night. Now both shows are sold out, but if you weren't able to get tickets, you'll get a third chance to catch Bey in the NYC area on this tour. She hasn't booked a third night at Barclays, but she did announce a show happening on July 31 at Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ. Tickets for the Izod Center show go on sale Friday (2/22) at 10 AM with a Live Nation presale starting Thursday (2/21) at 10 AM. Updated dates are listed below.

Beyonce's self-directed, self-produced documentary, Life Is But a Dream, premiered on HBO over the weekend (2/16) and you can now watch it in its entirety below...

More is more rockers (and Glenn Beck's favorite band) Muse released their sixth album, The 2nd Law, this week which brings us more over-the-top arrangements, histronic singing, pomp, circumstance and cheeky humor that we've come to expect from Matt Bellamy and company, with a soupçon of dubstep to remind you what year it is. You can stream it at Spotify if so desired.

Muse are in NYC this weekend to play SNL (Daniel Craig hosts) and will be back bringing their live spectacle to North American arenas in 2013, and the initial dates announced include two NYC-area shows: Madison Square Garden on April 15 and the IZOD Center on April 19. Tickets to both shows go on sale Friday, October 12. MSG at 9 AM and IZOD is still TBA. No ticket links yet but you can keep checking Ticketmaster. All dates are listed below.

If you missed the whole Glen Beck thing, in an interview with the Guardian, singer Matt Bellamy criticized conservative politicians in America for requesting to play their hit song "Uprising." Glenn Beck, a Muse superfan, posted an open letter to Muse in response, which is below in full.

Also below is the list of all Muse tour dates, the video for "Madness" (their "dubstep" song) as well as the video for their 2006 single "Knights of Cydonia" just because it's kind of amazing.

Then there were the visuals: blasts of confetti, swirls of light on circular video screens, lasers sweeping the floor of the arena, and the electronic bracelets that seemed to realize Adam Young's dream of ten thousand fireflies. Coldplay sold seats in the entire arena, which meant tiers of flashing armbands in every direction. The intent was to create something immersive -- to make fans part of the light show, and to erase a bit of the barrier between performers and listeners. It also made the Coldplay concert look and feel like something out of the Electric Daisy Carnival. - [NJ.com]

Coldplay, whose tour next brings them to Chicago, played East Rutherford, NJ's Izod Centeron both Friday and Saturday night (8/3-8/4). Using confetti, oversized beach balls, and wristbands given out to every member of the audience, Coldplay turned the arena into a technicolor spectacle while churning out fan favorites like "The Scientist", "Clocks" and "Viva La Vida."

Emeli Sande and Marina and the Diamonds opened both shows. Pictures from the first night and the setlist (which was identical for both nights), below...

Tickets for the recently announcedVan Halen show at Izod Center on 7/13 with Ky-Mani Marley go on presale Friday (4/19) at noon with a presale code of "ACCESS".

In related news, Eddie Van Halen recently spoke to Esquire about many personal details of his life...

The funny thing is, about the whole alcoholism thing: It wasn't really the partying. It was like -- I don't mean to blame my dad [musician Jan Van Halen], but when I started playing in front of people, I'd get so damn nervous. I asked him, "Dad, how do you do it?" That's when he handed me the cigarette and the drink. And I go, Oh, this is good! It works! For so long, it really did work. And I certainly didn't do it to party. I would do blow and I would drink, and then I would go to my room and write music.

The story goes on to reveal that Eddie Van Halen, who famously had a piece of his tongue removed in 2000, is still sadly battling cancer. "Last fall, the cancer came back and they took another chunk of his tongue. Every few months, he opens his mouth and doctors poke at him." Stay well Eddie!

Van Halen, still reunited with David Lee Roth and out touring in support of a new album, have announced a July 13th show at Izod Center in NJ. "Tickets Go On Sale Monday, April 23 at 10AM at www.livenation.com, www.ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800.745.3000, and at select Ticketmaster locations." Prices are $49.50, $79.50, and $149.50.

Opening the new date will be one of Bob Marley's 11 children, Ky-Mani Marley. Why do I point out how many brothers and sisters Ky-Mani has? Because it's still fresh in my mind after seeing the "Marley" documentary (which opens in theaters on 4/20).

So far, on every show on this tour, the final song has been "Tenth Avenue Freeze-out" which has included a powerful, silent tribute to Clarence. Every time Bruce gets to the line "When the change was made uptown and the Big Man joined the band" the band stops playing and Bruce urges the crowd on, for at least 90 seconds to just cheer as loudly as they can.

On Wednesday, Bruce ran to the mini-stage at the back of the floor pit (where he starts his crowd surfing from earlier) and when he got to that line, he stopped and the video screens showed video and pictures of Clarence throughout his E Street career. It was so moving and as Bruce again urged the crowd on (for almost a good two minutes), this time just had so much more meaning with the pictures of Clarence shown.

And while we miss Clarence so much, his nephew Jake has been outstanding along with the other members of the horn section. [NJ.com]

Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band's "Wrecking Ball" tour hit the Izod Center in their home state of NJ for second time in two days last night (4/4). Here are some pictures and the setlist (you can see the previous night's HERE).

The tour continues at Madison Square Garden in NYC on Friday (4/6). More pictures and the setlist from Wednesday, and a video of the Clarence tribute, below...

"Mr. Springsteen, 62, has never had a problem wringing uplift from struggle; that was the implication of the show's most rousing songs, like "Born to Run," "Badlands" and "The Promised Land." And he has engaged poignantly with national tragedy. Among the other highlights here were "The Rising," originally a salve for Sept. 11, and "American Skin (41 Shots)," inspired by the 1999 police shooting of Amadou Diallo and rededicated, during a show last week, to Trayvon Martin." [NY Times]

Bruce Sprinsteen's "Wrecking Ball" tour hit the Izod Center in his home state of NJ last night (4/3) for the first of two in-demand shows at the venue formerly known as Continental Airlines Arena and Brendan Byrne Arena. "Wrecking Ball" was the 2nd of 25 songs the E Street Band played. Check out the full setlist below...

Tool is playing Izod Center in NJ on February 1st. The promoters are advertising it as their "only area appearance" and tickets go on sale Saturdy at 10am which is also when tickets go on sale for 1/31 at Mohegan Sun in CT.

Coldplayalso has a show coming up at the Izod Center, and actually they have two. They just added August 4th to their schedule that already included August 3rd. Tickets for both go on sale Saturday at 10am too, but there's a presale going on now with password "blues".

So fans might be forgiven for rolling their eyes over Judas Priest's announcement some months back that their current road show... would be their "final" one.

"I wish we had a better word than final," says Priest singer Rob Halford. "It's not the end of the band but it is a farewell to these gigantic world tours."

In fact, Halford says they'll be back in the States for limited runs, and will record again. And so, it seems, they'll do nearly everything they ever did, just somewhat less of it.

"We've been reflecting on what's left to do and how best to do it," the singer says. "We're all cognizant of the fact that, while metal forges on, the one thing you can't hold back is the physical."-[NY Daily News]

Judas Priest played their not-final NYC area show as part of the Epitaph tour on Friday, 11/18 at Izod Center in NJ with Black Label Society, Thin Lizzy and DJ Lady Starlight. Here are some pictures from that show.

Officially retired or not, Priest was sans founding guitarist K. K. Downing (who has retired, officially and was replaced by Richie Faulkner), so unfortunately the last chance to catch KK/Tipton/Halford/Hill passed with their last tour.

Kanye West & Jay-Z aka The Throne played their first of two shows at the Izod Center in NJ last night (11/5), and they do it again in the same location tonight, and then two nights in a row at MSG...

"The core of the show weaved together separate, alternating sets from Jay and Kanye. This especially benefitted Kanye, whose recent albums, and last tour, got bogged down in fodder. Here he culled the cream, from the strident gospel chorus of "Jesus Walks" to the gothic "Power." Jay-Z, the more consistent performer, drew on his wealth of favorites, from the stuttering "Jigga What" to "Hard Knock Life." The pair doubled up on that last one and others, together offering not just value for money, but a survey of recent commercial hip-hop at its height." [Daily News]

"The show was his first solo performance, and it was truly solo--he was onstage alone with backing tracks on a laptop.

Ocean's system still had a kink or two. "This is awkward," he said quietly when the video screen behind him started showing footage from western movies without audio. That problem was quickly solved, and having his band on computer didn't limit him in any obvious ways.

Song lengths never felt shorter than what the moment demanded, and he wasn't locked into a pre-programmed sequence. Ocean changed the set list on the fly, gesturing for his offstage computer tech to skip forward more than once. He solved the problem of not having a lead guitarist to play the solo at the end of "American Wedding" by strapping on a Guitar Hero controller, turning his back to the audience, and apparently playing along as the video game's footage for "Hotel California"--the song's key sample--ran on the video screen. "I've always wanted to do that," Ocean said afterward." [Rolling Stone]

When Frank's NYC show was first announced, it seemed like maybe he would make it to NJ for at least one of the Izod Throne shows. We know now that didn't happen/isn't possible. Since then the MSG shows were announced though, so maybe Frank will pop on stage in NYC on Monday and Tuesday.

Odd Future (obviously without Frank and vice versa) co-headline Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin tonight. We hear there will be no photopit.

Guns N' Roses are going on a tour that hits the Izod Center in NJ on November 17th. Tickets are currently on presale. The passwords are "GNR" and "Better". General sale begins Saturday at 10am. "The band will perform over 2 hours of all of their classic hits" says the ad. All dates below...

After storming the world for nearly 40 years and taking their very special brand of heavy metal to all four corners of the planet, JUDAS PRIEST - one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, have announced this will be their final world tour!!

However, the mighty PRIEST will certainly be going out strong as they rock the planet starting in 2011 on the massive EPITAPH tour - hitting all the major cities throughout the world they will be playing the songs that helped make the name JUDAS PRIEST synonymous with heavy metal!

With all guns blazing and amps cranked to eleven, the band will be giving all their fans one last chance to witness the ultimate metal experience that is JUDAS PRIEST!

That blurb comes right from Judas Priest's website, though note that they also wrote in June that "...we stated that it was the last major world tour for Judas Priest - nothing has changed - we didn't say it was the end of the band or that we were going to retire or the band was going to break up........... Just that it would be the last major world tour we would be doing which is still the case. We have plans for a new album...". Confusing!

Regardless, all tour dates are listed below including a NYC-area date at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ on 11/18. Tickets for that show are currently on presale (code is "ACCESS") and go on regular sale at 10AM on Saturday, 9/17. Black Label Society and Thin Lizzy will open the US dates.

Jay & Ye wait to receive the large bundles of money about to be thrown at them

Tickets for the previously discussedJay-Z/Kanye West aka Watch The Throne (isn't throne a synonym for toilet?) show scheduled for September 27 & 28 at IZOD Center go on presale on Thurs 7/28 at 10:00 AM. Presale code is "WTT" for the NJ dates (probably for all of them). You can head to the WTT website for details on all cities starting at midnight tonight (7/27). General sale tickets, ranging from $55 to $178.50, hit Ticketmaster on August 8 at 10am. - BBG

Jay-Z and Kanye West will proclaim that all sucka MCs need to Watch The Throne, when the pair release their collaborative LP on August 8th. Stream the first track "Otis" at Jay-Z's blog. The LP marks Jay-Z's third attempt at merging with a major star to form another supercrew. He released an EP with Linkin Park and two LPs as part of "The Best of Both Worlds", his collaboration with R.Kelly that in addition to the LPs, produced a much discussed, failed tour.

In addition, and much like The Best of Both Worlds, Jigga and Ye will hit the road together for a string of US dates kicking off in late Septemeber and coming to a close in November. The tour includes a pair of dates at Izod Center in East Rutherford on 9/27 and 9/28. Ticketing info is forthcoming, but presale passwords are set to be revealed on Thursday at midnight.

After a 10-year hiatus from the North American concert stage, Sade came. She sang. She danced. She looked radiant. She conquered.

With the hypnotic sound of her elegant, alluring pipes unfolding in serene sonic tapestries of neo-soul, jazz and pop, the 52-year-old Nigerian-born, British-raised Helen Folasade Adu (aka Sade) first seduced music lovers in 1984 with "Diamond Life." And despite more than 25 years passing since her stellar debut, this sexy, exotic chanteuse with the silky, smooth operator voice and cool Anglo-soul is as entrancing as ever, as evident throughout her two-hour, 22-song set Wednesday night at TD Garden that included plenty of highlights, as well as a one-song encore. [Telegram]

Sade & John Legends's ongoing tour hit Nassau Coliseum on 6/21,
Izod Center on 6/24, and the Prudential Center on 6/25. Pictures from the latter, the setlists from all three NYC-area shows, and a just-released video for new song "Love is Found" from Sade's 'Ultimate Collection' (out now), below...

My only complaint about the December 18th Prince show at Madison Square Garden was how short it felt. It was under two hours. I would have gladly taken three. I thought for sure we'd get a nice chunk of extra songs in the 2nd encore, but instead we only got a nice chunk of extra celebrities. Not that watching Sherri Sheppard of the View, Whoopi Goldberg (also on the View), opener Sinbad, Spike Lee, Spike Lee's son, Jamie Foxx, Naomi Campbell, Alicia Keys, Professor Cornel West, Tavis Smiley, opener Larry Graham (who also had his bass), Questlove (who also drummed) (and whose afro and tweeting were unmissable from where I was sitting before he left his seat to get on stage), Busta Rhymes, John Leguizamo (who I also saw on the will call line when I walked in), Sheila E (who was already up there performing), Prince's amazing band and backup singers and others dancing around on the love symbol-shaped stage wasn't fun, but I would have gladly traded it for a few more songs.

And speaking of Larry Graham whose band Graham Central Station opened, he was very worth getting there early for. Graham was the bass player for Sly & the Family Stone, and he paid that band tribute with a five-song medly that Prince himself came out to play on. For an opener, the energy in the half-packed room was huge.

Sheila E's appearance during Prince's set, especially her performance of her hit song The Glamorous Life was another serious highlight, though unlike as advertised, it wasn't the only show on the "tour" she showed up for. She didn't play at the 12/15 Izod Center show, but she did play during the second of three encores (yes, they got three) at the 12/17 Izod show, and it has been announced she will play with Prince again at MSG tonight (12/29). The full lineup for tonight's show is: 7:30 - Mint Condition, 8:15 - Janelle Monae, 9:00 - PRINCE (w/ Sheila E). UPDATE: She didn't actually play with Prince on 12/29.

"Do you want me?" Prince sang shortly into his concert at the Izod Center, his first of two shows here before he performs on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. He knew the answer would be an affirmative roar. And his opening song was a boast: "Laydown," from his most recent album, "20Ten" (NPG), announced, "From the heart of Minnesota/Here come the purple Yoda" and matter-of-factly asserted, "Everybody wanna be me." [NY Times]

Prince kicked off his "Welcome 2 America" NJ & NYC tour last night at the Izod Center in NJ. The next show is at the same venue on Friday. Last night's 2-hour setlist and a video below...

As previously mentioned, Cassandra Wilson announced she would be playing with Prince on 12/15 only, and it was unclear if Janelle Monae would actually be at more than one show. She won't...

Prince has announced his guests for the first four dates of his highly anticipated "Welcome 2 America" performances. Joining him for his first performance on December 15th at the Izod Center will be jazz bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding and R&B artist Lalah Hathaway. Also at Izod, Prince will be joined by Grammy winning jazz performer Cassandra Wilson and funk saxophonist Maceo Parker on December 17th. For the first performance at Madison Square Garden on December 18th, comedian Sinbad and famed bassist Larry Graham and his band Graham Central Station. That night only, Sheila E will join Prince on stage. On December 29th at MSG, fans will be treated to Twin City legends Mint Condition and recent double-Grammy nominee Janelle Monae.

Due to overwhelming demand, Prince announced today that he is adding another Madison Square Garden show to the previously announced New York Area concerts. The two previously announced Madison Square Garden shows taking place on December 18th and December 29th sold out in less than 30 minutes. The new MSG show will take place on January 18th, 2011 with tickets going on sale December 10th at 12pm at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.

Due to scheduling issues the first show at the IZOD Center on December 14th has been canceled. Ticket holders for the December 14th IZOD show will have several ticket options. They will automatically receive an email notification with a new seat location for the December 15th IZOD show which they can keep or receive a full refund at the point of purchase. If they prefer to buy tickets to the newly announced MSG date scheduled for January 18th, they will have access to presale tickets on Wednesday, December 8th from 10:00 am ET to 10 pm ET.